Riverdale, N.Y. (March 28, 2007)- Trailing by two with two out in the bottom of the ninth, Manhattan rallied to score a run and load the bases, but could not push across the equalizer, dropping an 8-7 decision to New York Tech this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park. The loss snaps the Jaspers' four-game winning streak, and drops their record to 8-11, while the Bears improve to 3-10.
Manhattan cracked the scoreboard first, as Mike Garcia belted a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the first to score Rene Ruiz and give the Jaspers a 2-0 lead. The lead increased to 3-0 in the bottom of the second on a solo homer by Dom Lombardi before the Bears would score five straight runs.
NYIT got on the board in the top of the third, plating a run on a single, and took the lead with a four run fourth, with the big hit being a two-RBI single by Kraig Binick, two grab a 5-3 lead.
Manhattan knotted the score at 5-5 with single runs in the fourth and fifth. Nick Derba scampered home from first on a three-base error by the NYIT center fielder to score the first run, and Eric Nieto scored on an error by the Bears' second baseman with the second run.
NYIT regained the lead in the top of the sixth on a two-RBI single by Joe Esposito to take a 7-5 lead, but the Jaspers responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame on a Kevin Nieto RBI triple, which scored Ruben Perez.
The Bears scored what would turn out to be a crucial insurance run in the eighth on an Esposito single to take an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
After the first two outs were recorded in the ninth, Garcia singled up the middle to start the Jaspers' rally. NYIT closer John Eichorn would walk the next three batters to force in a run and put the tying run on third and the winning run on second, but Eichorn induced a popup to third to end the rally and the game.
Manhattan returns to the diamond this weekend, traveling to Loudonville, N.Y. to play a three-game MAAC series with Siena College. The two teams will play a double header on Saturday, March 31, and a single game on Sunday, April 1. The first pitch on both days is slated for 12 noon.
